Diet of Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818) (Mammalia, Chiroptera) in an urban forest fragment in Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

Abstract

Bats are known for their importance in regulating ecosystems, where they are involved in pollination and seed dispersal. Species of phytophagous bats such as Artibeus lituratus often occupy altered areas or even urban regions. The aim of this study was to investigate the diet of A. lituratus on the campus of the State University of Londrina, in a forest fragment with high anthropogenic influence. Four monthly collections were carried out between October 2012 and September 2013 using four mist nets per night. The animals were identified in the field and placed in cotton bags for half an hour to obtain fecal samples for diet analysis. A total of 86 individuals were collected, which provided 42 fecal samples. The results indicated that the diet of A. lituratus is composed mainly of Cecropiaceae and Moraceae fruits. The trophic niche breadth (B’) was higher in March, August and September 2013, but there were no significant differences in diet between the seasons (H = 0.3002, p = 0.96). The preference for pioneer species in the diet of A. lituratus may be indicative of their important role in the restoration of forest fragments, even in urban environments.

Keywords

• Dispersão de sementes
• Frugivoria
• Restauração
• Morcegos
• Zoocoria